Shire of Laidley
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Laidley was a Local Government Area located in the Lockyer Valley
region between the cities of Toowoomba
and Ipswich
, and about 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Brisbane
, the state capital of Queensland
, Australia
. The shire covered an area of 700.6 square kilometres (270.5 sq mi), and existed from 1888 until its merger with the Shire of Gatton
to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.
people.
The district was originally part of the Tarampa Divisional Board, which was created on 15 January 1880 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 25 April 1888, the Laidley district broke away and separately incorporated as the Laidley Division, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill
area moved from Tarampa to Laidley. On 1 July 1902, the town of Laidley
was created as a separate municipality with its own Borough Council.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the borough became a Town and the division a Shire on 31 March 1903. The town council was dissolved on 8 February 1917, and Laidley absorbed part of the Shire of Rosewood.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
on 10 August 2007, Laidley merged with the Shire of Gatton
to form the Lockyer Valley Region.
Lockyer Valley, Queensland
The Lockyer Valley is an area of rich farmlands that lies to the west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and east of Toowoomba. The Lockyer Valley is rated among the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world...
region between the cities of Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
and Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
, and about 70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the state capital of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The shire covered an area of 700.6 square kilometres (270.5 sq mi), and existed from 1888 until its merger with the Shire of Gatton
Shire of Gatton
The Shire of Gatton was a Local Government Area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
to form the Lockyer Valley Region on 15 March 2008.
History
Prior to European settlement, the area around Laidley was home to the Kitabul AboriginalIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
people.
The district was originally part of the Tarampa Divisional Board, which was created on 15 January 1880 under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. On 25 April 1888, the Laidley district broke away and separately incorporated as the Laidley Division, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill
Forest Hill, Queensland
Forest Hill is a town in the Lockyer Valley region of south east Queensland, Australia. The town is in the Lockyer Valley Region local government area, west of the state capital, Brisbane and east of the regional centre of Toowoomba...
area moved from Tarampa to Laidley. On 1 July 1902, the town of Laidley
Laidley, Queensland
Laidley is a town situated in the Lockyer Valley of South East Queensland, Australia. The township lies 83 km west of Brisbane, the state capital....
was created as a separate municipality with its own Borough Council.
With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the borough became a Town and the division a Shire on 31 March 1903. The town council was dissolved on 8 February 1917, and Laidley absorbed part of the Shire of Rosewood.
On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland
Parliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. According to the state's constitution, the Parliament consists of the Queen and the Legislative Assembly. It is the only unicameral state parliament in the country, the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, having been...
on 10 August 2007, Laidley merged with the Shire of Gatton
Shire of Gatton
The Shire of Gatton was a Local Government Area located in the Lockyer Valley region between the cities of Toowoomba and Ipswich, and about west of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
to form the Lockyer Valley Region.
Structure
The Shire of Laidley initially had three divisions each electing three councillors, but from 1917 onwards had five divisions each electing two councillors. The chairman and clerk were chosen from amongst the councillors.Towns and localities
- LaidleyLaidley, QueenslandLaidley is a town situated in the Lockyer Valley of South East Queensland, Australia. The township lies 83 km west of Brisbane, the state capital....
- Blenheim
- Forest HillForest Hill, QueenslandForest Hill is a town in the Lockyer Valley region of south east Queensland, Australia. The town is in the Lockyer Valley Region local government area, west of the state capital, Brisbane and east of the regional centre of Toowoomba...
- Glenore Grove
- Regency Downs
- Hatton Vale
- Kentville
- Lockrose
- Mulgowie
- Plainland
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1933 | 5,100 |
| 1947 | 4,755 |
| 1954 | 4,617 |
| 1961 | 4,793 |
| 1966 | 4,847 |
| 1971 | 4,493 |
| 1976 | 4,635 |
| 1981 | 5,380 |
| 1986 | 6,812 |
| 1991 | 8,463 |
| 1996 | 12,116 |
| 2001 | 12,636 |
| 2006 | 14,311 |